And he asked me my name and where I was staying.
After thanking him, I thought no more about the matter till next day,
when there arrived at my house a native teacher of Languages, who said
that Sir Frederick Roberts had sent him to give me some lessons!
Thus, like everybody else, I began my acquaintance with him by
heartily liking him. He had gone out of his way to do a kindness to a
young officer of whom he knew nothing. But that was just like him--it
was his way.
I need not tell you about his early career in the Army. Probably every
Scout knows how, in the Mutiny in India in 1858, Lieutenant Roberts
won the Victoria Cross. He had charged with the cavalry, and had
followed the flying mutineers, when he saw one of them attacking a
loyal native cavalryman.
Roberts at once dashed to his rescue and cut down the Sepoy. As he did
so, he saw two more Sepoys making off with a regimental flag; so he
pushed on after them, although single-handed and alone. He seized the
Standard and cut down the man who held it. The other man aimed his
rifle at him, close against him, and pulled the trigger but the gun
failed to go off, and the man turned and fled for his life.
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